Apparatus for the liquid treatment of warp form threads or yarns



Oct. 1, 1957 w, c, H. G. VERGERS ET AL APPARATUS FOR THE LIQUIDTREATMENT OF WARP FORM THREADS OR YARNS Filed June 15, 1955 0 l I l I II p u w United States Patent APPARATUS FOR THE LIQUID TREATMENT OF WARPFORM THREADS OR YARNS I Willem C. H. G. Vergers, Petr'us Johannes Kreek,and

11 Claims. (Cl. 68--175) The present invention relates to the treatmentof threads and more particularly to a liquid aftertreatment of a sheetor warp of closely spaced parallel threads passing in a horizontal orsubstantially horizontal plane through an open receptacle filled with asuitable liquid, This invention represents a further development overthat described and claimed in the copending Schrenk application SerialNo. 292,920, filed June 11, 1952, now Patent No. 2,674,113, issued April6, .1954, and assigned to the same assignee as the present application.

More particularly, this invention relates to a device for the continuoustreatment with liquids of a number of closely spaced threads running inan almost horizontal plane, in which the threads are led along theundersides of guide rollers located at the beginning and end of a troughat a vdistance of some millimeters, e. g., 3-7 mm., below the liquidlevel therein.

It is well known that during the liquid bath treatment ofa number ofthreads running in parallel, backand cross-currents are generated whichexert a detrimental influence on the course of the treatment. Thus, twoor more threads may conve'ige on the smooth guide rollers, andespecially on the delivery roller, with the result that filaments of onethread may entangle with those of another thread, thus impeding thefluid treatment. Also, the threads in the interval between the guiderollers may move laterally under theinfluence of the irregular fluidcurrents, by which the threads may come into contact with each otherand, as a consequence, entanglement of the filaments may occur.

In addition to these and other deficiencies, the entanglementof'fi'laments of adjacent threads is very disadvantag'eous, because as ageneral rule it involves rupture of the filaments and the occurence ofloose fibers.

It is therefore an object of this invention to minimize, it not indeedprevent, these objectionable irregular fiow characteristics and to'prevent counter-current and crosscurrent flow of the liquid in thatportion of the receptacle in which the threads move; and to provide forthe uniform and constant flow of liquid in the direction of threadtravel. Other objects and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent as the description proceeds.

According to this invention it has been found possible to prevent saidbackand cross-currents as well as the further difficulties arising inthe treatment of a great number of threads in a liquid bath by providinga liquidtreating device characterized in that the threads are led over aplateat a distance of some millimeters, e. g., l,=-'5 him. from theplate, and in that, at least over part of the plate, the treating liquidmoving with the threads over the plate is confined in such manner thatthe width of the liquid path there is only some millimeters, e. g., 644mm, greater than the width of the path formed by the threads.

The apparatus according to the inventioncom'prises a trough orreceptacle having guide rollers at the beginning "and end of thereceptacle, and an inlet and an outlet for the treating liquid arrangedin such a way that the liquid level in the receptacle lies at a distanceof-some millimeters, e. g., 37 -mm., above the undersideof the guiderollers. In the receptacle a plate is provided having means for keepingthe plate at a distance of some millimeters, e. g., 1-5 mm, from thecommon tangent plane through the undersides of the guide rollers. Thesides of at least part of the plate may also be provided with threadguiding edges. It is also desirable to position the plate within thereceptacle at such a slope that the'threads 'near the feed roller are ata distance of 1-2 mm. greater from the plate than are the threads nearthe delivery roller.

Preferably, the length of the plate is such that the plate terminatesbefore the vertical tangent plane at the front side of the deliveryroller. H I

According to another embodiment of the invention, however, the plateextends beyond the deliveryrolle'r and there is curved downwardly, thiscurvature beginning before or at the line intersecting the verticaltangent plane at the fron't side of the. delivery roller. In thisembodiment it is advantageous thatthe curvature be circular andthat theradius of the circle be For a s'atisfacto'ryfiow of the treating liquidit is desirable to round oh the ends of the plate in the various typesof construction, and a steady now of the liquid is further promoted ifone or more guiding blades are provided in the receptacle: near one orboth ends of the plate.

In certain instances it is desirable to equip the device with pivotedguide rollers, in which case the means for setting the plate in thetrough is additionally adapted so as to allow a downward, temporarydisplacement of the plates, at the ends to insure adequate clearance forthe guide rollers as they are swung into operative positio about theirpivots. I b x In the device-according to the present invention, theplate may be placed in the receptacle in various Ways. According to onefavorable embodiment the plate is kept in position in the liquid-filledreceptacle by means of floating bodies. Preferably, one or more airchambers are then employed as floating bodies. f

In order to facilitate the temporary movement of the plate at the endswhen pivoted guide rollers are employed, it is desirable to support theplate at the centers of both sides by means of trunnions fitting in theside Walls of the trough, so that the plate may revolve about this sup-P I g In any of the various embodiments of the plate, its four cornersmay be provided, at or near the ends of the plate, with projectionsextending longitudinally and kept in place-against the lower side of theends of the "guide rollers or against plates connected at those pointswith the rollers.

By Way of further illustration of the present invention,- it isdescribed hereinafter in conjunction with the accompanying drawingswhich are to be regarded as illustrative rather than by wayof'limita'tion. In .the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a top view of one embodiment of the device according tothis invention;

Figure 2 shows a vertical sectional view of the device shown in Figure1, andalso swingable or pivoted guide rollers which for simplicity arenot shown in Figure 1';'

Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of the invention, representing onlyapart of the trough near the delivery roller;

Figure 4 shows, in the same; manner as Figure 3, a third embodiment;

Figure 5 shows, in the same manner as Figure 3, a fourth embodiment;

Figure 6 shows a further improvement of the particular embodiment shownin Figure 5; and

Figure 7 shows a detail of one end of a guide roller useful for keepingthe plate in place in the receptacle.

In the several figures 1 denotes an open treating receptacle throughwhich flows the treating liquid 2. The level of the treating liquid is,as indicated in Figure 2, determined by the position of the outlet 3 ofthe receptacle. The liquid inlet may be accomplished in any conventionalmanner, not shown.

In the receptacle are located the guide rollers 4 and 5, along the lowersides of which a number of threads 6 (constituting a flat sheet or warpof threads) are led. At a distance of some millimeters apart, thethreads, which may number 30, 60, 100, or more, are led through thetreating liquid. If no special precautions are taken, there arise in thereceptacle due to the draw of the rapidly moving threads in the treatingliquid numerous backand cross-currents which exert an irregular,varying, and detrimental influence under, beside, and over the threads.By providing a plate 7 at a distance of some millimeters under the bedformed by the warp of threads 6, a steady flow of the treating liquid ispromoted and, especially by limiting the width of the liquid path overthe plate by bounding the plate over at least part of its length bymeans of vertically disposed guiding edges 8, backand cross-currents areprevented.

As bounding sides, the sides of the receptacle itself may serve as well;in such case care should be taken that the threads are caused to occupythe entire width of the trough to a distance of 3-7 mm. from eitherside.

Experiments have shown that a steady flow of the treating liquid overthe plate 7 is further promoted if the plate is placed in a slightlysloping position, i. e., in such a way that near the feed roller 4 thedistance between plate 7 and threads 6 is slightly greater than at thedelivery roller 5. This distance need not be more than 1-2 mm. greaterthan near the delivery roller. The cause of this improvement has notbeen fully ascertained, though it is considered very likely that theimproved effect is based upon a certain levelling in the liquid currentas it flows through the receptacle.

In Figures 3, 4, and 6, parts which correspond to parts shown in Figures1 and 2 are designated by the same numeral with a distinguishingalphabetical suflix. It is understood that the general assembly ofFigures 1 and 2 is applicable to Figures 3 to 6, inclusive, whichillustrate different types of plates. Figure 3 shows an embodiment inaccordancewith which the plate 7a is straight over its whole length, androunded off at the end. Figure 4 shows an embodiment with a similarplate 712 of which the rounded end is thicker than the body of theplate, in order to promote the return flow of liquid under the plate.

In Figures 5 and 6, there are shown plates 70 and 7d the ends of whichextend beyond the respective delivery rollers 50 and 5d and are curveddownwardly. This curvature of the plates, which is designated at 21 and22, begins at the line intersecting the vertical tangent plane at thefront side of the respective delivery roller.

Experiments with the device according to the present invention haverevealed that the further behavior of the liquid current at the end ofthe plates 7a and 7b, and at the point where the thread runs up thedelivery rollers 5a or 5b, is very favorably affected if the plates 7aor 7b be terminated before the vertical tangent plane at the front sideof the respective delivery roller. This is also true if the plate isextended beyond the delivery roller 5 and so curved downwardly as at 21and 22 that the curvature begins before or at the line intersecting thevertical tangent plane at the front side of the delivery roller (seeFigs. 5 and 6).

In these particular embodiments of the device according to the presentinvention, it has been found that a distinct wave-trough is formed inthe liquid between the end of the intermediate bottom plate 7a or 7b andthe delivery roller 50! or 512 as indicated in Figures 3 and 4,

or beyond the point of curvature of the plate 70 when the end is curvedas indicated in Figure 5. The threads do not, or at most they onlypartly, follow the liquid level when it merges into a wave-trough,probably because the threads are under tension. The result is that eachthread floats like a suspension-bridge over the liquid level in thewave-trough proper, whereas a dam-like veil of liquid is formed fromeach thread in this wave-trough.

These liquid-veils, suspended from the threads, cause a favorabledenseness of the threads, with the net result that the filaments adhereless strongly to the delivery roller and show a reduced tendency tofloat towards adjacent threads so that less loose fibers occur.Moreover, as a result of the suspended liquid dams the threads show agreater stability against lateral shifting and against running incontact with each other on the smooth rollers, and they are lesssusceptible to displacement by crosscurrents in the bath if any shouldoccur. At the same time, the amount of liquid carried from the bath bythe threads is strongly affected by the position of the wavetrough withrespect to the delivery roller. As a conse' quence, it has becomepossible to choose such conditions of operation that the threads carry aminimum amount of liquid, and therefore less liquid flows back from therising threads, which in turn promotes a more tranquil flow of theliquid.

Owing to the great stability thus effected in the running of the threadsthrough the receptacle 5, it is not necessary for the raised edges suchas S of the plate 7, see Figure 2, to extend up to the rollers, inparticular up to the delivery roller such as 5. This shortening resultsin that at least a part of the liquid current, induced by the runningthreads, can immediately flow back laterally into the interspace betweenthe raised edges and the sides of the receptacle, without any harmfuleffect upon the threads.

It has been found that the best results are obtained when the curvatureof the plates 70 or 7d of Figures 5 and 6 is circulated and the circleradius is :nm. A very regular flow of liquid is thus effected,especially if a like rounding be also present at the other end of theplate. Further, very desirable results are obtained by providing blades9 around the ends of plate 7d to guide the liquid along the underside ofthe plate, and at the other end of the receptacle to return the liquidto the top side of the plate 712'. In Figure 6 only the downwardcurvature of the plate 7d and the blades 9 at the end of the plate nearthe delivery roller 5d are shown, it being understood that a similarconstruction is preferably provided at the thread inlet end of thereceptacle. At the liquid inlet side 23 of each set of blades 9 theblades are preferably spaced wider apart than at the outlet side 24.

In case swingable or pivoted guide roller with auxiliary guide rollers10 and 11 (see Figure 2) are provided, it is desirable that the meansfor adjusting the position of the plate in the receptacle be so arrangedas to allow of a downward, temporary displacement of the plate and itsends.

The auxiliary rollers 10 and 11 are outside the liquid during normaloperation, whilst the rollers 4 and 5 guide the threads through theliquid. The guide rollers 4 and 5 have bearings at the ends of twolevers connected at the other ends with the pivots 12 and 13,respectively. Sim ilarly, the auxiliary rollers 10 and 11 have bearingsbetween two levers also connected with the pivots 12 and 13,respectively, and set at an angle with the levers of rollers 4 and 5.When the main guide roller 4 or 5 is swung from the receptacle in thedirection of the head side of the receptacle, the auxiliary roller 10 or11 submerges from the inside into the liquid and takes over the work ofguiding the threads. Conversely, resetting each of the levers to itsoriginal position brings the main roller into its working positionagain, and the auxiliary roller is automatically removed from contactwith the threads and the liquid.

This thread guiding arrangement has great practical advantages as thethreads are easily threaded in and the guide rollers may be cleaned veryeasily without interruption of the overall process.

With a device constructed according to the invention and having a plateas described above, operating difiiculties might be encountered in caseswingable or pivoted guide rollers were employed. Swinging the mainrollers out or in, and hence respectively the auxiliary rollers in orout of operative contact with the threads, would, without providing alsoan arrangement permitting a downward, temporary deflection of the plateat the ends as described above, result in that the rollers would comeinto contact with the plate and the support for the plate.

Consequently, provision is made for the downward,

temporary displacement of the plate at the ends in a very simple mannerby keeping the plate in position in the liquid-filled receptacle bymeans of floating bodies. Figure 2 shows the detail of such a floatingbody, consisting of an air chamber 14 disposed below the flat surface ofthe plate 7. Thus, the plate in the treating liquid obtains thenecessary upward pressure due to the buoyancy created by the airchamber. In addition, in the center of plate 7 trunnions 15 are providedwhich slide in slots 16 in the sides of the receptacle 1 (see Figure l),and may revolve or pivot in them. In this way, the plate 7 may move upand down in the liquid, and at the same time, may pivot by means of thetrunnions 15 in the slots 16. The ends of the plates thus may be causedto make a downward, temporary movement to provide clearance oradditional clearance for the swinging or pivoted guide rollers.

The plate 7 may also be provided with other lifting devices, by which,with the aid of adjusting devices, the distance from the plate to thebed formed by the warp of threads undergoing treatment may be adjusted,and which may press the plate upwardly against the rollers. As liftingdevices, springs, e. g., tension springs, may be used which press theplate upwards. However, floating bodies and in particular the airchambers described above, have been most satisfactory. Other floatingbodies resistant to the treating liquid, e. g. those made of cork, arealso serviceable.

In the case of air chambers, these, like the plate itself, may be madeof metal, plastic or other suitable material depending upon the natureof the treating liquid.

In order to assist in keeping the plate 7 properly in place, it may beprovided at the four corners with extensions 17 (see Figure 1). Theseextensions or protrusions 17 may rest against bent plates 18 (see Figure7) mounted near the ends of the pivoted guide rollers. The plates 18 areattached to or supported by the bearings of the guide rollers. In casethe guide rollers are not pivoted, a similar construction may beemployed at the trunnions by which the guide rollers then are mounted inthe sides of the receptacle.

While specific details of preferred embodiments have been set forthabove, it will be apparent that many changes and modifications may bemade therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. It willtherefore be understood that what has been described herein is intendedto be illustrative only, and is not intended to limit the scope of theinvention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for the liquid treatment of a warp of moving threadscomprising an open receptacle for containing a liquid, thread guidingrollers including a feed roller and a delivery roller disposed in saidreceptacle and rotatable about horizontal axes, a plate disposed belowthe normal level of liquid in the receptacle and defining two regionscommunicating with each other in the upper one of which the warp ofthreads passes during the liquid treatment, and means for mounting saidplate, for vertical adjustment and for tilting about a horizontal axisparallel to the axes of the thread guiding rollers, and buoyant means insupporting relation to said plate to support the same in the receptaclewhen the latter is provided with liquid the depth of liquid in saidreceptacle determining the vertical position of said plate.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said plate is provided withmarginal guiding edges for the warp of threads over at least part of itslength.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said plate is of such alength that it terminates before the vertical tangent plane at the frontside of the delivery roller.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said plate extends beyond thedelivery roller.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the end of said plate curvesdownwardly beginning near the line of intersection thereof with thevertical tangent plane at the front side of the delivery roller.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said plate curves downwardlyin the form of a circular are having a radius of approximately mm.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the ends of said plate arerounded 01f.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein at least one liquid flowguide blade is located adjacent the rounded ends of said plate, wherebyto assist in circulating the treating liquid in said open receptacle.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the means mounting saidplate comprises trunnions extending from the center of both sidesthereof about which trunnions said plate may revolve, and means definingslots in opposite side walls of said receptacle, said trunnions engagingin said slots in the side walls of said open receptacle.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said plate is generallyrectangular and provided at each of its four corners with longitudinallyextending portions that extend beyond and below and cooperate with thelower sides of the thread guiding rollers assembly in order to assist inmaintaining said plate at the desired distance below said rollers.

11. Apparatus for the liquid treatment of a warp of moving rayon threadscomprising an open receptacle for containinga liquid; thread guidingrollers including a feed roller and a delivery roller disposed in saidreceptacle and rotatable about horizontal axes; a plate disposed belowthe normal level of liquid in the receptacle and defining two regionscommunicating with each other in the upper one of which the warp ofthreads passes during the liquid treatment; means for mounting saidplate for vertical adjustment and for tilting about a horizontal axisparallel to the axes of the thread guiding rollers; said plate mountingmeans including a pneumatic float chamber positioned below said plate inthe lower of said regions, the vertical adjustment of said float chamberand plate being determined by the depth of liquid in said receptacle,projecting portions extending from said plate below the guide rollers,means defining slots in opposite side walls of said receptacle andtrunnions about which the plate pivots extending from the sides of saidplate, said trunnions engaging respectively in said slots; guiding edgesextending upwardly from the sides of the plate over at least part of itslength and liquid fiow-directing baffles adjacent each end of saidplate.

References Cited in the file of this patent 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS2,441,308 Bond May 11, 1948 2,459,254 Van Der Mei Jan. 18, 19492,516,268 Spalding July 25, 1950 2,613,521 Walrnsley Oct. 14, 19522,663,177 Hanhart Dec. 22, 1953 2,674,113 Schrenk Apr. 6, 1954

